Long Beach State University Athletics
Dirtbags set to host Washington State this weekend
3/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 11, 2009
Long Beach, Calif. -
Complete Baseball Release in PDF Format 
Leading Off
The Dirtbags host their second full home series this weekend, bringing Washington State in for three games. Long Beach State starts off the series on Friday night with a 6:30 p.m. start against the Cougars, followed by two afternoon games beginning at 2 p.m. and 1 p.m. respectively on Saturday and Sunday.
What's Coming Up?
Following the five-game homestand over the course of this week, Long Beach State takes their second and final trip out of California in the regular season, resuming a rivalry with Wichita State. The Dirtbags and Shockers continue a series in 2009 that has lasted through the entire tenure of Mike Weathers. In fact, the Dirtbags and Shockers have met every year since 1998. Afterwards, Long Beach State has a midweek road game on Tuesday, followed by a three-game home series with UNLV.
Carolina On My Mind
Long Beach State dropped the first two games of a weekend series on the road to South Carolina before taking the finale on Sunday. Facing the No. 18 Gamecocks, the Dirtbags struggled against the South Carolina bats on Friday night, falling 15-8, but battled in a 7-5 loss on Saturday. The Dirtbags rebounded on Sunday, starting their current hot streak at the plate with a 10-7 win, taking a 7-0 lead on the way to the win.
Scouting Washington State
Washington State enters the weekend with a 3-8 record. After getting swept on the road at Arkansas to start the year, the Cougars rebounded for a 2-2 split against Oklahoma in a home series, but most recently dropped three games in Houston, falling to Rice, Oral Roberts and Notre Dame. Not afraid to travel, the Cougars are making their third major road trip of the non-conference season, and will play Pepperdine in two midweek contests following the trip to Blair Field. The Cougars are led offensively by Patrick Claussen and Shea Vucinich. Claussen leads the team with a .436 batting average, while Vucinich has 13 hits with 3 doubles and two home runs.
Long Beach State vs. the Cougars
Long Beach State holds the edge in the all-time series with Washington State, having won 9 out of the 12 meetings between the teams. Washington State won two games prior to the Dave Snow era, but since 1989, Long Beach State has won 9 of 10 against the Cougars. The teams last meet in 2003, when the Dirtbags picked up a sweep of the Cougars at home, winning 7-1, 11-0 and 9-4.
Waking The Bats
In Long Beach State's last two games, the Dirtbags had really found their offensive swing. Hitting .290 as a team for the entire year, Long Beach State has hit .400 in its last two games, both wins. The Dirtbags have scored 27 runs while pounding out 34 hits, including eight doubles and give homers in that span. Over the last two games, Long Beach State has reached base at a .453 rate while slugging .694, putting up 10 runs against a previously undefeated South Carolina squad and running up a 17-3 score against a ranked San Diego ballclub.
Steve's Big Day
Steve Tinoco broke out in a big way in Long Beach State's final game at South Carolina. Tinoco tied a long-time school record, co-held by All-American Rob Townley and first team All-Big West selection Jaeme Leal by hitting three home runs in a single game. Tinoco's three bombs were part of a five-for-five effort in South Carolina. Tinoco started the day with a leadoff home run in the second inning, and matched the feat in his second at-bat to start the third. In the fifth inning, he singled for hit number three, and in the seventh Tinoco would single again, coming around to score. Finally, in the ninth, Tinoco would add a capping home run, his third of the day to end a spectacular day at the plate. In all, Tinoco recorded five hits, four runs scored, three home runs, three RBI and a stolen base in leading the Dirtbags to the win.
